Indicator.



PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906 C. VERSTEBG.

INDICATOR.

APPLICATION TILED T11R10, 1906.

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ATTORNEYS THE Nmuzls PEYERS co., wuumarcu, c. c.

Nb. 831,911. PATENTED SEPT. 25, 1906. 0. VERSIEBG. INDICATOR.

I APPLICATION rum) rm. 10, 1906.

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CHESTER VERSTEEG, OF ASHTON, SOUTH DAKOTA.

INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1906.

Application filed February 10,1906. Serial No. 300,466.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER VERsTEEe, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Ashton, in the county of Spink and State of SouthDakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators,of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in indicators for grain-bins; and itconsists in certain novel constructions and combinations of partshereinafter described and claimed. Referring to the drawings forming aart hereof, Figure 1 is a perspective view 0 my indicator in position ina bin. Fig. 2 is a ver tical view through the swinging box and itssupporting-plate, showing the parts in their normal position. Fig. 3 isa similar view showing the position of the parts when the circuit isclosed. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a number of devices and theswitchboard to which they are connected. Fig. 5 is a vertical section ofa modified form, showing the parts in their normal position. Fig. 6 is asimilar view showing the position of the parts when the circuit isclosed, and Fig. 7 is a front view of the supporting-plate.

My indicator comprises an. open electric circuit including a signal tobe operated by the contact of the terminals of the circuit, the saidterminals being arranged within the bin in a position to be moved intocontact by the entering of the grain when it reaches a predetermineddepth in the bin and in means for preventing the direct contact of thegrain with the contact-points while permitting their movement toward andfrom each other.

In the present embodiment of the invention a support A is arrangedwithin the bin,

the support being provided with a longitudinal groove (1, in which isslidably mounted the end of a block a, the outer end of the block beingbeveled downwardly, as at 0. for a purpose to be hereinafter described.The block a is secured in adjusted position by means of bolts and nutsa, traversing openings a in the support and registering openings in theblock. A plurality of pairs of openings a are arranged at differentpoints upon the support, whereby to vary the position of the block withrespect thereto. A plate a is secured to the beveled end a of the blocka and upon the lower face of the plate, near the lower end thereof, is acontact-point M. A closed box a, having in the upper face thereof a slotfor receiving the end of the platens mounted to swing upon the plate bymeans of cars a turned up from the box and pivoted to the plate by thescrews a". The inner face of the box is provided with a secondcontact-point a arranged opposite to the contact-point a and adapted tobe moved thereagainst when the box is swung toward the support.

In practice an indicator may be arranged in each bin, and the conductorsfrom the indicators lead to a common switch-board arranged in someconvenient part of the building. The switch-board B comprises a base b,having arranged upon the face thereof a plurality of conducting-barsb 1) parallel with and spaced apart from each other, the end of saidbars being connected by the conductors b in an open circuit whichincludes a battery 12". Between the contact-bars b b are arranged aplurality of longitudinal alined and spaced plates b b the abutting endsof the plates being recessed, as at b for the reception of plugs 1),whereby to connect the plates with each other.

It will be evident from the drawings that the alternate plates b aredivided vertically by a strip of insulation b. The upper contact-bar bis connected to the intermediate plates b by means of the conductors I).The wires a a leading from the contactpoints of the indicator, areconnected, one with the contact-bar b? and the other with a plate b anda bell b is interposed in each of the conductors b.

It will be evident from the description that when the plugs are insertedin the openings the contact-points of each of the indicators 1, 2, 3, 4,and 5 are the terminals of an open circuit which includes the batteryand the bell. hen the box of the indicator is moved to bring itscontact-points against the contact-points of the plate, the circuit isclosed, and the bell rings until the plug corresponding to the indicatoris removed from the switchboard. The removal of the plug breaks thecircuit and stops the ringing of the bell.

It is obvious that a bell might be arranged in the circuit leading fromthe contact-bar to the battery or in the return-conductor, in which caseall of the indicators would have a common bell, and drop-plates might beused in connection with the bell.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have shown a slight modification of my indicator usedto indicate the emptying of the bin instead of the filling. In thisconstruction the contact-point of the plate is arranged upon the upperface thereof and the contact-point of the box upon the inner face of thecorresponding side of the box. It is evident that when the pressure isremoved from the lower face of the box it will move by gravity in aposition to bring the contact-points together and complete the thecircuit.

In a device of the character specified it is necessary to preserve thecontact-points from direct contact with the grain, since the grain wouldtend to work in between the points and retain them asunder. Theprovisionof the swinging box inclosing both of the contact-pointseffectually serves this end.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

' '1. An indicator for grain-bins, comprising a vertical supportarranged in the bin and having a longitudinal groove, a block adjustablymounted in the slot and projecting horizontally therefrom, the outer endof the block being beveled upwardly, a plate secured to the beveled endof the block, and having an electrical contact-point secured thereto, aclosed box having a slot in its upper face and having ears at the endsof the slots, pivot-pins connecting the ears to the plate, said boxnormally depending vertically from the plate, and provided on its innerface with a contact-point for coacting with the point on the plate, anelectric circuit having its terminals connected with the contact-points,said current including a signal operated by the contact of thecontactpoints. v

2. An indicator for grain-bins, comprising a vertical support arran edin the bin, a block mounted for vertica movement on the support, a platesecured to the block and arranged at an angle thereto, said plate havinga contact-point thereon, a box inclosing the lower end of the plate andhinged thereto, the box having a contact-point on the inner side of oneof its faces for contacting with the oint on the plate when said face ismoving 1nto arallelism with the plate, an electric circuit having itsterminals in the contactpoints of said circuit and including a signaloperated by the closing of the contactpoints. a

3. An indicator for grain-bins, comprising a support vertically arrangedin the bin, a

plate adjustable vertically upon the support and arranged at an anglethereto, said plate having a contact-point arranged thereon, a boxinclosing the lower end of the plate and movable with respect thereto,the box having a contact-point for contacting with the point on theplate when the box is moved toward the support, and an electric circuithaving its terminals in the contactpoints, and including a signal. v

4. An indicator for grain-bins, comprising a support arranged verticallyin the bin, a plate having a contact-point adjustably mounted on thesupport, a box movable upon the plate and having a contactoint forcoacting with the point on the p ate, and an electric circuit having itsterminals in the contact-points, and including a signal operated by'thecontact of the contact-points.

5. An indicator for grain-bins comprising a support, a plate on thesupport and provided with a contact-point, a box movably mounted on theplate and having therein a contact-point, and an electric circuit havingits terminals in the contact-points, and 1nsaid contact-pomts verticallyof the bin, an

an electric circuit having'its terminals in the contact-points andincluding a signal operated by the contact of the points.

7. An indicator for grain-bins, comprising an open electric circuitincluding a signal and a means for closing the circuit to operate thesignal, said closing means being placed in the bin and comprising asupport having a contact-point to which is attached one of the terminalsof the circuit, and a box movable on the support and inclosing thecontactpoint, said box having therein a second contact-point to which isattached the other terminal of the circuit.

8. An indicator for grain-bins, comprising a plate provided with acontact-point, a box movably mounted on the plate and inclosing thecontact-point, said box having therein a second contact-point, and anelectric circuit having its terminals in the contact-points andincluding a signal, said box beingadapted to be moved by the grain toclose the circuit.

CHESTER VERSTEEG. Witnesses S. P. WATKINS, MELESIN SowLEs SLA'DE.

